Richard Rich is remembered for being one of the biggest villains of the Tudor period. A reputation he certainly seems to have earned, he can be found involved in many of the events in the reign of Henry VIII, including the downfall of Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell. He was one of the torturers of the protestant martyr Anne Askew, and he prosecuted catholic priests for refusing the English bible. Rising from a lawyer to Lord Chancellor to King Edward VI, Rich's wealth grew as did his status. He eventually owned hundreds of properties in Essex and became very wealthy due to his appointment as Chancellor of the Court of Augmentations. But was he all bad? Towards the end of his life, Rich established Felsted School, which remains active today. He managed to survive under four Tudor monarchs, some say by betraying his fellows, while others argue that he was simply being a loyal servant to his monarch. Does he truly deserve this pessimistic view, or has history portrayed him as a villain? This book examines Richard Rich's life and involvement in the Tudor court to determine whether he truly was a villain. AUTHOR: Ever since being inspired by her history teacher in secondary school and the 1997 movie Titanic, Laura has had a passion for history, especially medieval and Tudor eras. She writes her blog, Talking about History, and gives talks on the Tudor era and the history of her home county of Essex Her other passion in life is her daughter who now joins Laura on her history trips and outings. When she is not exploring Laura enjoys reading and adding to her growing collection of books. Her first book, Katheryn Parr: Henry VIII's Sixth Queen, was published in 2024. 30 b/w illustrations
Title: Edward VI's Lord Chancellor, Richard Rich: Villain or Loyal Servant?
Format: Hardback Book
Release Date: 01 Aug 2026
Author: Laura Adkins
Sku: 3632885
Catalogue No: 9781036112424
Category: Reading